The ALDE Group supports the general outline of the Horizon 2020 proposal. On the occasion of an ALDE seminar on the strengths and weaknesses of the upcoming EU framework programme for research and innovation yesterday afternoon in the European Parliament the group line has been shaped - and confirmed - in a dialogue with a huge variety of stakeholders from the public and the private sector.

Jens ROHDE (Denmark, Venstre), ALDE coordinator in the Industry, Research & Energy Committee, said in view to the Commission proposal: "We are particularly pleased that some of the proposals that we have championed over the last couple of years, are taken on board. We always stressed that commercialisation should be included in the parameters of future calls for projects under Horizon 2020  in the field of innovation; the Commission has taken it on board. Our recommendation to introduce inducement prices (a competition that awards a cash prize for the accomplishment of a certain technological breakthrough, e.g. a battery for an e-car that only has to recharge after 300 km) has been incorporated."

Cristian BUSOI (Romania, PNL), co-organizer of the seminar, said: "Unlocking the innovation potential of our enterprises and in particular of our SMEs, will be crucial in order to come back on the path of economic growth and not any kind of growth, but sustainable growth, which is definitely necessary in order make it compatible with our environmental objectives. "

After this input, ALDE draws a number of conclusions: 
• Focusing on more market driven innovation financing.
• Increasing dramatically the measures for which SMEs can apply.
• Making the EU financing as efficient as a venture capital.
• Increasing lending by Commission and EIB to venture capital funds which can multiply the EU financing and provide more value for public money.
• Increasing the market driven innovation parts for renewable energies, resource efficiency technologies and life sciences.

The well-attended seminar combined the interventions from several General Directorates of the European Commission namely Research & Innovation, Environment, Enterprise & Industry and Climate, representatives of SMEs and the business sector, the European Investment Bank and Private Equity/Venture Capital, as well as universities.